The Pentagon announced on Friday (October 24) that the US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hagerty, has ordered the deployment of the latest aircraft carrier, the “Gerald R. Ford,” and its support vessels to the Caribbean Sea to assist in combating drug trafficking in the region. This deployment of military force showcases the strongest stance taken by the Trump administration in Latin America to date.
According to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, in support of the President’s directives to dismantle transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and combat drug terrorism to defend the homeland, the Secretary of Defense has instructed the “Gerald R. Ford” aircraft carrier strike group and its carrier air wing to head to the responsibility area of the US Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM).
The US Southern Command’s responsibility area includes the Caribbean Sea, Central America, South America, and is also responsible for the defense of the Panama Canal.
Prior to this, the Pentagon had significantly reinforced its operational capabilities in the region. The aircraft carrier will enable commanders to carry out airstrikes more rapidly and reduce the flying distance for US military aircraft to reach land targets.
“Enhancing the military presence of the United States in the US Southern Command’s responsibility area will strengthen the US capability to conduct surveillance, monitoring, and deter illegal activities and actors that threaten the security and prosperity of the US homeland and the security of the Western Hemisphere,” Parnell stated.
He did not specify when the “Ford” aircraft carrier would head to the region, but as of a few days ago, the carrier was passing through the Strait of Gibraltar en route to Europe.
This deployment is part of Trump’s military deployments in the Caribbean region, which include the deployment of eight warships, a nuclear submarine, and F-35 fighter jets.
Since early September, the US military has conducted 10 attacks on suspected drug trafficking vessels, mainly in the Caribbean region.
The “Ford” aircraft carrier, commissioned in 2017, is the newest aircraft carrier in the US and the largest in the world, accommodating over 5,000 sailors. The carrier is equipped with a nuclear reactor and can carry over 75 military aircraft, including F-18 Super Hornets and E-2 Hawkeye early warning aircraft. The carrier also has a range of missiles, such as the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile, which is a medium-range anti-aircraft missile used to counter drones and military aircraft.
In August, the US government doubled the reward amount to $50 million to incentivize providing information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro. Maduro has been accused of having ties to drug trafficking and criminal organizations, which he denies.